Clan out to weather the Storm as they seek purple patch
MATT KEITH is out to make sure house rules apply tonight as Braehead Clan aim to avoid gambling with their playoff hopes.
The Glasgow club welcome Manchester Storm in the second of a six-game stretch in February that will see the men in purple play all their games on home ice at the Braehead Arena.
Form in front of the Purple Army has been inconsistent this season, and only on Saturday a bumper crowd witnessed their team lose 5-4 to the Belfast Giants.
Clan are sitting in sixth place with 13 games left to play in the regular EIHL season. But, having played a small handful of games more than most of their rivals, making the most of their home comforts will be vital to propelling them towards a favourable tie come the end-of-term play-off quarter-finals.
“It’s important we start to win some of these home games,” said Keith, speaking to SportTimes.
“It’s been pretty much up and down, particularly at home, up until this point.
“Saturday was particularly disappointing way to lose. I felt we wasted a couple of really good efforts from Scott Pitt’s line.
“Four goals should be enough to win a game, but unfortunately there were some bad bounces and breaks that didn’t go our way.
“This is a very important week for us and we want to start well. There are a couple of conference games then Coventry on Sunday. It’s important and big for us to get going right away.”
New recruit Stefan Della Rovere has been cleared to pull on a Clan jersey for the first time following his switch on Monday from Fassa of the Alps Hockey League.
The 26-year-old Canadian has been brought in to help boost productivity on the Keith line, and his fellow countryman is open to freshening things up.
“He just got in so we’ve only had one skate with him,” said the Braehead captain ahead of tonight’s game (face-off 7.30pm).
“He was playing on the line with me and it’s good to change thing sup every once in a while.
“For me and my game, it’s about getting back to doing the simple things and going back to what made me successful in the past.
“Working with a player like Stefan, who will win battles and wants to play, can only help me.
“It’s obviously a good addition and we’ll try and help him fit in as much as we can.”